Monday, July 4, 2011

Next month, I'll be attending Costume College in Southern California, and there are plans to have a costumed pool party while we are there. I'm pretty prudish about showing off a lot of skin, so I floundered around for awhile trying to figure out what I could make. I finally took inspiration from an amazing piece of vintage terrycloth that I had picked up at an estate sale last year and decided to make a playdress from a 1967 Simplicity pattern.

The tunic was a snap to put together and so fun easy to wear. But I haven't worn a pair of shorts in at least 5 years, and I was getting some major cold feet about walking around the hotel in an outfit that looks like I forgot my pants! So I decided to make up a pair of super-wide pallazzo pants to wear over the shorts when I'm not at the pool. The pants pattern is from 1969, and I am totally in love with these things as well. I think I need a dozen pairs to wear around the house (and do yoga in!)

I think I had the most fun finding accessories to finish this outfit off. The head scarf is such an easy way to fix my hair, and I think it'll look even better once I get a haircut so can do a decent flip with the ends. I made the sash from a similar tunic pattern, and I'm not sure if I will keep that part as is, buy something else, or just wear the tunic with no belt. That's the one part of the outfit that I'm not totally sold on. I found the 60's blue-tinted sunglasses on ebay, and although I think they look a little silly on me, they are definitely fun, so what the heck. The vintage rubber sandals are from etsy, and I also have a pair of big white hoops and a straw tote with flamingoes on it coming in the mail soon. I can't wait to get it all together!

I also had a lot of fun "antiquing" these photos. I scanned some of my parents' old pictures to use for the border and for general color matching. But I also wanted to show you some regular shots so you could see my psychedelic fabric in all its dayglow glory. :)

I used to read your blog way back in the 16th century days - just got bit with the costuming bug again last night and went back to some of my favorite sites. So awesome to see you still making fabulous things!

You did an impressive job of making your photos look like real 1960s survivals. The outfit is really great, too. (I say this with a certain trepidation, since I was already alive, though very young, during that "period".) Thanks for posting these!

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About Me

Welcome to my project blog! I am an artist and seamstress who is obsessed with fashion history. I tend to focus on the Renaissance through the mid-20th century styles, but I sometimes dabble in fantasy costuming and modern sewing as well.